ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED CORAL GARDENING PROJECT AT MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO RESORT, GAAFU ALIF ATOLL August 2019 Prepared for Pristine Islands Investment Pvt Ltd Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ުިއަގުުްޓޯސިރުުޫޑްއޫކުްސްވިޑްލޯމުރ އިކާމު ު ގ މ ދްއ ހުުާޗީގަބު ގު އަކަރ މުުިއާލަގ ު ނާފްށޮކު ު ރު ުަސައުުްށަޓްއ ވާމިތުުްނިއ ޢޫރްޝަމ ުްޓޯޕިރުުާރ ކްނާޔަބު ރަވްނިމު 1029ުްޓްސަގޮއ : ރާޔިދ އު ގ ޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑ ޓިމިލުްޓ ވިއަރްޕުްޓްނަމްޓްސ ވްނިއުްޑްނ ލިއައުްނީޓްސިރްޕ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކުޭއ.ިއައ.ީއު ގ ޢޫރްޝަމ ު ުްގްނިޓްލަސްނޮކުީއ.ީޑ.ީސ EIA for the Proposed Coral Gardening Project at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v List of tables .................................................................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ ix Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... xii 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Scope Summary ................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Legal Status of Land ........................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Project Background and Rationale ................................................................................... 6 1.7 Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................ 7 1.8 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 7 1.9 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 7 1.10 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 7 1.11 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................ 8 1.11.1 General Approach ........................................................................................................ 8 1.11.2 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 8 1.11.3 Field Observations ....................................................................................................... 9 1.11.4 Desk Study Review ...................................................................................................... 11 1.11.5 Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................................................... 11 1.11.6 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 11 1.11.7 Report Format ............................................................................................................ 11 1.12 Study Team Members .................................................................................................... 11 1.13 Potential Data Gaps and Limitations of the Study ......................................................... 12 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Project Outline and Key Features................................................................................... 14 2.2 Detailed Project Outline and Work Methodology.......................................................... 16 2.2.1 Coral Nursery ............................................................................................................. 16 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|i EIA for the Proposed Coral Gardening Project at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort 2.2.2 Mini-coral gardens under overwater villas ................................................................ 18 2.3 Project Schedule and Life Span ..................................................................................... 18 2.4 Environmental Management, Logistics and Safety Measures ....................................... 18 2.4.1 Timing and Coordination ........................................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Workforce and Services .............................................................................................. 19 2.4.3 Construction Waste Management and Disposal ........................................................ 19 2.4.4 Health and Safety Measures ....................................................................................... 19 2.4.5 Fire Prevention ........................................................................................................... 19 2.5 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 19 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 21 3.1 Relevant Legislation ....................................................................................................... 21 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 21 3.1.1 Tourism Act (Act no. 2/99) ......................................................................................... 22 3.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 23 3.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 23 3.2.2 Regulation on the Protection and Conservation of the Environment in the Tourism Industry .................................................................................................................................. 23 3.2.3 Waste Management Regulation 2013 ......................................................................... 23 3.2.4 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ....................................................................... 24 3.2.5 The Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9) ............................... 24 3.2.6 Compliance ................................................................................................................. 25 3.3 Environmental Permits Required for the Project ........................................................... 25 3.3.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decision Note ........................................... 25 3.4 Responsible Institutions ................................................................................................. 25 3.4.1 Ministry of Environment ............................................................................................. 26 3.4.2 Ministry of Tourism .................................................................................................... 26 3.4.3 Atoll Council ............................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Guiding Policies and Documents ................................................................................... 26 3.5.1 National Environmental Action Plan II (NEAP II) .................................................... 26 3.5.2 Waste Management Policy ......................................................................................... 27 3.6 International Conventions .............................................................................................. 28 3.6.1 Convention on Biological Diversity ........................................................................... 28 3.6.2 UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol .................................................................................... 28 4 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................. 30 4.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 30 Prepared by: CDE Consulting Page|ii EIA for the Proposed Coral Gardening Project at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort 4.1.1 Meteorology ................................................................................................................ 30 4.1.2 Hydrology ................................................................................................................... 36 4.1.3 Water Quality Assessment .......................................................................................... 40 4.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................